Papa Johns International

Sr. Director, Marketplace

Papa Johns International$130K — $180K *
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of strategic leadership experience, ideally in the QSR or marketplace industries
  • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
  • In-depth knowledge of third-party aggregator platforms and their business models
  • Proven experience managing multi-million dollar marketing budgets
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and make informed decisions

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development of Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with key aggregator partners to ensure alignment and co-investment
  • Negotiate contracts with third-party platforms to secure advantageous terms for the company
  • Explore and onboard new third-party platforms to enhance customer acquisition and market reach
  • Establish and implement a structured 'test and learn' framework for promotional and pricing strategies
  • Oversee a large marketing budget, ensuring effective allocation for high returns on advertising spend
  • Coach franchisees and local leaders on maximizing third-party business opportunities
  • Monitor daily performance metrics to identify and act on growth opportunities

Benefits

  • Inclusive company culture that values belonging and connection
  • Emphasis on integrity and quality in decision-making
  • Focus on employee well-being to enhance customer experiences
  • Encouragement of innovation and creative problem-solving
  • Celebration of success and enjoyment in the workplace
Full Job Description

Job Summary:

The Senior Director, Marketplace Strategy leads the strategic vision and growth across Papa Johns third-party marketplace channels (e.g., DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub). Serving as the primary architect of our third-party ecosystem, this leader is responsible for driving incremental volume, maximizing channel profitability, and expanding access to the brand.

This role bridges enterprise strategy and field execution by establishing Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with aggregator partners, spearheading aggressive "test and learn" growth initiatives, and deploying precision marketing spend. Additionally, this position acts as a key strategic partner to domestic franchises and Designated Market Areas (DMAs)—coaching field leadership and operators on localized marketplace levers that drive profitable order growth.

KeyDuties & Responsibilities

StrategicPartner Management & Joint Business Planning

  • Lead Enterprise JBP Strategy: Own executive-level relationships with primary aggregator partners to construct Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that align co-investment, promotional calendars, and feature roadmaps with company goals.
  • Aggregator Contract & Commercial Terms: Lead contract negotiations with third-party platforms to secure optimal commission structures, marketing placements, and favorable operational terms for corporate and franchise locations.
  • Expansion & New Channels: Evaluate and onboard emerging third-party platforms and novel delivery models to unlock new customer acquisition and expand addressable market.

Growth Strategy & Precision Spending
  • Test & Learn Innovation: Build and execute a structured "test and learn" framework to continually evaluate promotional constructs, menu merchandising, targeting, pricing, and placement strategies across platforms.
  • Precision Budget Management: Oversee a multi-million dollar third-party marketing budget, applying precision spending models to ensure high ROAS, efficient customer acquisition, and profitable incremental order growth.
  • ConversionOptimization: Optimizebrand storefronts, digital merchandising, and visibility tactics across aggregator apps to drive brand impact and appeal.

Franchisee Coaching & Field Enablement
  • DMA & Franchise Coaching: Serve as the subject matter expert for franchisees, local marketing directors and DMA leaders, providing actionable playbooks, localized insights, and coaching on how to maximize third-party business.
  • Franchise Communication: Regularly present channel performance, test learnings, and strategic roadmaps to franchise advisory councils and executive leadership to ensure cross-functional alignment.

Analytics, Performance & Execution
  • Daily Performance Monitoring: Track key operational and financial metrics (order growth, operational consistency/reviews, profitability) to rapidly identify channel opportunities and execute corrective tactics.
  • Cross-Functional Integration: Partner closely with Local Marketing, Technology, Operations, and Finance to ensure third-party strategies seamlessly integrate with first-party digital channels, commercial priorities and overall P&L goals.

Education, Experience & Certifications

  • Proven experience (10+ years) in a strategic leadership role, preferably in QSR or marketplace focused industries
  • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred

Functional Skills

  • Strongunderstanding of the third-party aggregator platforms and marketplace business models
  • Significantthird party delivery / aggregator experience required, including managing multi-million dollar promotional budgets
  • Demonstrated track record of successfully driving demand and growing third-party channels profitably
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
  • Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, build complex financial models that include the various fee structures of each platform, develop executive level dashboards, and make data-driven decisions
  • Strong negotiation & vendor/partner management skills
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and build growth-minded relationships with external partners
  • Intimate knowledge of delivery, POS + tech platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Amazon, GrubHub, PAR, Deliverect, etc…) andindustry best practices
  • Familiaritywith business intelligence tools like Tableau and AI data assistants to help speed up analytics processing
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment

Our Values

  • EVERYONE BELONGS - We believe connectedness and belonging are the essential ingredients to our success
  • DO THE RIGHT THING - We are relentlessly focused on quality and integrity and make the right choices, even when it's difficult
  • PEOPLE FIRST - To craft positive experiences for our customers, we take care of each other first
  • INNOVATE TO WIN - We champion and challenge for a better way in all we do
  • HAVE FUN - We find joy, create meaningful impact and celebrate the journey together

Our Core Competencies

  • CUSTOMER CENTRIC - We leverage data and insights to craft a customer experience that builds relationships, cultivates trust, and delivers excellence

  • RESULTS DRIVEN 6 We focus on measurable outcomes by remaining optimistic, tenacious, and persistent even in the face of challenges

  • CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - We champion for better through strategic risk taking, experimentation and challenging the status quo

  • BIAS FOR ACTION - We courageously lead, drive towards decisions, and maintain agility to meet the demands of our dynamic industry

  • WINNING TOGETHER - We work together to unlock our full potential by actively collaborating and contributing in a cross-functional capacity

About Papa Johns International

Papa John's International, Inc. is an American pizza restaurant franchise company. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Papa John's operates over 5,000 restaurants in 45 countries and territories around the world. The company's menu includes a variety of pizzas, sides, and desserts. Papa John's is known for its commitment to quality ingredients and customer service. The company has faced controversy in recent years due to the behavior of its founder and former CEO, John Schnatter. Papa John's has taken steps to distance itself from Schnatter and improve its corporate culture.
Learn more about Papa Johns International
Size
14,000 employees
Market Cap
$2.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$57.9 million
Founded
1985
5 Year Trend
+3.8%
Revenue
$1.8 billion
NASDAQ

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